Episode 27: Asian Eyelid Surgery & Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Dr. Christine Coughlin
On today's episode of Pain to Passion Live, I got to sit down and hear my amazing friend, Dr. Christine Coughlin, share her incredible story of pain and healing.
I was so moved by Christine's vulnerability in sharing how she struggled with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and extreme depression after going through an Asian Eye Surgery that went terribly wrong. After enduring an incredibly painful procedure, she found herself looking in the mirror and unable to even recognize herself. This led her down a path of deep despair and had her wrestling with the choice of whether or not to continue living.
Christine's resilience is so amazing, and she talks about how her faith in God, her connection with others, and her commitment to gaining a new perspective and her personal growth changed everything for her. She now walks out what she has learned and shares her faith, her grit, and her commitment to living a vibrant lif with everyone around her, including her incredible team at Thrive Dentistry in Dallas, TX.
I know you are going to love Christine as much as I do, and you'll be so inspired to stay strong, keep the faith, trust God, and believe that He has a good plan for your life, no matter what difficulties you may face.
For Dallas-based listeners, get 50% off ZOOM Teeth Whitening at Thrive Dentistry! Simply mention that you listened to Gabi's podcast, Pain to Passion Live, when you arrive for your appointment! Thank you Dr. Christine and the staff at Thrive for making this discount possible! ThriveDentist.com
More about Christine:
Dr. Christine Coughlin is the designer, author, visionary, and “heart” of Thrive Dental and Orthodontics and multiple fastest-growing seven-figure dental practices in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. With a passion for empowering the next generation of servant leaders, she faithfully leads her Thrive Team to change smiles and lives through love.
With a heart of service, Dr. Christine is an advocate and global ambassador with Compassion International for children living in extreme poverty. Her mission is to release as many children as possible from poverty and help them thrive.
Dedicated to service-centered leadership, she is a member of world-class entrepreneurship mastermind groups, where she regularly speaks on business, mindset, faith, and philanthropy.
Connect with Christine:
Sponsor a Child with Compassion Int'l - compassion.com/thrivedentist
Thrive Dental and Orthodontics - ThriveDentist.com
Instagram - @dr.christinecoughlin and @thrivedentist
Connect with Gabi:
Instagram - @gabiruth
TikTok - @gabiruth84
Facebook - facebook.com/gabiruth84
Website - gabiruth.com
(TRANSCRIPT) Ep. 27: Asian Eye Surgery & Body Dysmorphic Disorder - Dr. Christine Coughlin
Note: Transcript is created by AI. Please excuse any errors.
Gabi: Hey, beautiful people. Welcome back to Pain to Passion Live. Today I get to chat with my wonderful new friend who doesn't feel like a new friend. Just like I've known her for a long time, she's amazing. This is Christine Conlan and she is actually Dr. Christine, which is super cool. Um, and we actually met through Amber Lee Lagos Mastermind that we're both part of, and it has been such a thrill and an honor to get to know to this beautiful, amazing woman.
So excited for you all to get to know her as well. So thank you for being here with me today, Christine.
Christine: Oh my goodness, the feeling is absolutely mutual. I absolutely adore you to pieces and the minute, the first time I met you instantly, I was so drawn to you. You're beautiful energy, and it's such an honor to be here.
I love what you're doing. I love you just sharing your story and the vulnerability that you have, and you're helping so many people. So I'm just so thrilled to be here. Thank you.
Gabi: Thank you. Thank you. You're so sweet. Well, I love to let my guests introduce themselves instead of reading a bio usually, because those juicy little tidbits tend to come out.
So I would love for you to just take the stage, let us know who you are, what you do, where you live, all of those fun things.
Christine: Sure. Um, so yeah, I'm Christine Coghlan. I grew up in la, born and raised there. And, um, I guess my. The biggest part of my story, I'll just go straight into it then. Yeah, do it . So, um, after I graduated dental school in 2011, I went through a trauma and it was, it's called Asian Eyelids Surgery.
And most people haven't heard of it, but it's an extremely common, um, procedure in Korean culture. Young women and even men are just under a lot of pressure to alter their appearance. And it's just kind of one of those coming of age things. And so I believe my whole life that I need to have this surgery done to be acceptable.
But I, what I had gone in hoping to get, which was the non-invasive, non cutting type of procedure, like a daytime procedure, it ended up being something completely different. And, um, I was misled into thinking of something very, very, you know, easy and non-invasive. But, um, the procedure itself was just, you know, three and a half hours of so much pain.
Um, I could feel everything. The doctors didn't properly anesthetize me, so Wow. I was just horrified at what was going on. Yeah. And I found out later that the doctor had cut out, um, An outrageous amount of my eyelid muscles. And so it was just, just painful and horrific. And I just felt like the whole time like, oh my goodness, like something's very wrong.
I could tell, you know, this is, this is wrong, what he's doing to me. And I just felt like he was mutilating me and I was just so horrified. And. Just so distraught and even like after the surgery was over, it's The nightmare was just beginning because, um, yeah, like what I had to deal with after was just trying to heal from that and I was so distraught and dis deeply disturbed at my appearance.
The first time I saw myself in the mirror, I was like, Oh my goodness. I can't even recognize the face staring back at me like I just looked so different. Um, and I was not only, you know, the physical pain was horrific, but it pales in comparison to the emotional and psychological pain that tormented me every moment of every day.
And so I was diagnosed with P T S D and body Dysmorphic Disorder. And, um, I also, you know, doctors told me that I had a genetic makeup that makes me extremely prone to depression, anxiety, O C D A, D D, all those things. So even since childhood I'd dealt with depression and low self-esteem, and, um, just a lot of.
Negative, negative self-talk. I just really had low, low self-worth. And so this surgery, it was like, I don't know, it was, it felt like all the cards were stacked against me, you know, like the perfect storm. And I was al already like a very artistic person. Very, I love doing art and so the way my brain works, it's very aesthetic and detail oriented.
And so of course you're gonna magnify your own flaws. And then bodied dysmorphic disorder, so many people. Struggle with this. And you know so many young people these days, men and young men and young women, even children struggle with body dysmorphic disorder and it has a high suicide rate. Mm-hmm. . And so it's something that I think it's very important that people know about this and that you can get help for this.
And so I, you know, for a while I really struggled, like I, um, body dysmorphia. What it does is it distorts your visual perception of yourself and it magnifies flaws or even, um, Gives you like the illusion that something is there, but it's not, it depends on, it varies, you know, on the spectrum. For me, it's, there were already some flaws, some imperfections, maybe some asymmetries, but it was so magnified and to me I thought I, I look like a monster.
And so it was, it was really, really difficult and I just fell into suicidal depression. Uh, I'm sorry if any of, any of what I'm saying is triggering for anyone. I'm sure you'll give the warning ahead of time, but, um, yeah, it was, it was really dark. It was really, really, um, I was in a really dark place for a long time and, um, Well, from there I had to decide what am I gonna do?
You know, I thought I couldn't function anymore. I, I couldn't sleep. I was just, I, I felt like I was literally living in hell. It's, and anytime I hear about someone taking their life, it breaks my heart because I understand the pain and, and let's please get rid of that stigma on mental illness that, you know, oh my goodness, someone.
You know, committed suicide and that word committed sounds like they committed a crime. No, they, they died by suicide. Right? Because they, they lost their battle with mental illness and they were just in so much pain and they just felt like they had no hope and they didn't say, see any end in sight, the pain.
And so that's why a lot of people end their life, not because they're selfish or a co. So I really, really want that stigma to be pleased. Please, you know, now that there's a little bit more awareness about it, but still it's suicide is on the rise and so we, we just need to have more compassion and awareness about this.
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So well from there, I guess you're probably wondering, well, you're still here today and you didn't, you know, take your life or anything like that. And I'm so grateful I'm here by the grace of God. Um, but there are three main things that helped me to overcome this and, um, well, number one, I had to choose I to choose either I was gonna live or I was gonna die, and how to choose to live, you know?
I had to choose one or the other because if I am am, if I'm gonna really live, I need to. I need to not just survive, I need to, I need to truly heal, you know? And so I had to make that decision. It's a choice though. And so I had to decide that I was gonna persevere, so I was like, I have to do whatever I can and I chose to persevere through my faith.
I had to press into faith. And without faith it's very hard to have any hope. Mm-hmm. , it's, I think it's impossible to have hope if you don't have, have like true, true hope if you don't have faith. Mm-hmm. . And so, and I just began to seek God with all my heart and I knew that I knew. Only God could truly heal me from the inside out.
Yes, I did all of the work. You know, I went to doctors, therapists, um, I got the help of coaches, mentors, and, um, you know, group therapy, all types of different therapy. I did everything that I could. To, to keep fighting every day. It was a battle. And some days I felt like I hit rock bottom. Mm-hmm. and, and, and the, the hopelessness would creep back in.
Um, and, and there were times I remember in the back of my mind thinking like, oh, wow. Like if, if I just continue to struggle and I just can't heal, then I don't know, I might just give up one day. And, and I'm, and that's so sad that I would think that way cuz I'm so grateful I didn't give up. I'm so grateful.
And if it weren't for, for faith and, and the perseverance holding onto that, even tiny, this tiniest liver of hope that I had, I had to hold onto it. And so I had to persevere and just keep fighting, reaching out for help, reaching out, up, up to God, my higher power to help me to heal and to overcome. I had to.
all the lies and the limiting beliefs I had believed for so long. I had to replace those lies with the truth of God. What he said in his word about and and what he said about me. Because I believed all these lies for so long that I was ruined, that I was ugly, that there was no hope for me, that my life was over, that I was a victim, and I had to let go of that victim story that, you know, I was this victim and that there's no hope for me.
You know, and just like let. Bitterness and helplessness just creep in and, and just lay down and just, you know, submit to that. No, I couldn't let myself do that. Yes, I was tempted to do that many times. A woe is me of why me? Why did this have to happen to me? You know, it's very easy to ask that, but a huge shift happen for me when I changed that question from why me to why not?
Yeah. And that shift changed everything, right? It's like, why not me? And then it, it helped me open my eyes to the fact that, wow, there's so many people in this world suffering too. I'm not the only one suffering. Mm-hmm. And you know, we're kind of, we're all in this together. Like we all need hope and healing.
We all need each other, you know? And so that's why like community is so important. We we're not meant to do this on our own, you know? And staying in isolation. You know, of course I was tempted to stay in isolation, and that will only bring you further and further into darkness and despair. Mm-hmm. , you know, and you feel like there's no hope.
But, and then when you start to share your story, when you start to reach out and you start to open up, you realize, wow, I'm not the only one. You know, going through pain, you know, so that was huge. And little by little as I pressed into faith and I continued to persevere and hold onto to God and, and just continue to let his word transform me, I, it just, I began to change.
So my, my heart and my mind began to transform. That brings me to my second point, which is I had to choose to per, um, not persevere, but change my perspective. Mm. Yeah. The perspective is everything. And so my perspective before was, yeah, that I was this victim and I, I was so just disillusioned. And of course we become disillusioned when life doesn't go the way that we hope, you know?
But in this life we will have pain and hardship. You know, we will have losses, we will have disappointments, you know, things that, that are crushing. Mm-hmm. , you know, but it's up to us how we respond to it. Right. And so I had to decide that I was gonna change my perspective about this. And that changes everything.
Like wow. Your perspective. And so I had to decide. Okay, how do I change my perspective? Well, I need to change the way I think. If I wanna change my life, I need to change myself. And so how do I change myself? Well, I invested in my personal development. I, I worked on developing a growth mindset. Mm-hmm. , I, yeah, I became my own health advocate.
I educated myself so that I could optimize my mind, body health and wellness. Uh, clean living, um, functional medicine has been a lifesaver for me. Um, I also, um, I, I just began to practice gratitude, you know, just. Just become gra uh, grateful for anything and everything I can find just to change the way I think.
Um, what else? To change my perspective. Oh, I constantly filled my mind with uplifting and, and life giving. Um, truth, you know, the truth of God. Also, just different podcast books. I constantly filled my mind with those things, and so all of those things. all just helped just change the way I see things.
Mm-hmm. and so my perspective. Completely changed and, but the biggest thing of what changed my perspective is God. God transforming me from the inside so that I could change the way I see myself. It's almost like God gave me new eyes to see, to see myself, and to see others, and so I'm so grateful for that.
Because before I thought, oh, well, I, I look ugly and I look ruined. And now I'm like, oh, I understand God. You say that I'm your masterpiece. That I'm God's masterpiece created for the good works, you know, that he planned for me long ago. And so that brings me to my third point, which is purpose. I had to find the purpose, my purpose, or the purpose in my pain.
We all wanna find our purpose in life, right? But we don't wanna go through the pain it takes to get there. But sometimes your greatest pain leads to your greatest purpose and. Yeah. I feel like that's, that's something that people don't want to hear, but . . But it's so true. It's so true, right? Because your pain can actually be power.
Your pain can be power and G Gavi, you do that so beautifully. You, you've turned your pain into power, you've turned your pain into passion, and you're helping so many people through that and the whole point. , you know, going through these things in our lives is so that we can help others. Mm-hmm. , you know, and, and so I've learned that the things that we go through this life are not just for us, it's for all the people who need hope and healing through our stories.
And so, and so that really has changed my, my perspective, just my attitude about life. And so anytime I go through, you know, setbacks and hardships, I just say thank you, God, because I know you're gonna use this for good, just like everything else, like in the past and everything else that God has brought me through.
Um, it just, it just grows my faith even more every time. And so I think those are the three things that really, really help me to overcome. And now today I get the privilege of you. Just empowering and championing my team at Thrive Dental and Orthodontics. Mm-hmm. , you know, so we can transform smiles and lives, you know, and so it's, it's been such a privilege and I, I look back now and see that God didn't waste anything.
He used everything that I went through to prepare me to quit me. Cuz pain is actually, Preparation for your purpose. Mm-hmm. , all the peas. You see how I'm using all the peas? I totally love it. Remember , because it's all preparation, right? Because you could let the pain destroy you or you could let it develop you.
Mm-hmm. , you know, into the person God created me to be. If it weren't for the pain I've been through, I wouldn't be the person God created me to be. You know? I wouldn't be the leader I am today. I wouldn't have the vision or the passion or just the. I have just such an, an unshakeable faith and confidence, and also a conf and a, a confidence in who I am and who and who's I am.
I guess that's the reason. That's my ultimate confidence, you know, that can never be taken away, is who I am. Yeah. As a child of God, you know? Yeah. And so, so for me, it. I look back and I can now say I am so thankful. I'm so grateful that I went through all the things. I wouldn't even change a thing. Wow. I, I never thought I would've ever said, made a comment like that, because in the past I used to think to myself, the only way I could be okay again is if this had never happened.
Therefore, I have no. . I mean, that's how bad it was. Yeah. Because I, I couldn't let go of the pain for so long. I couldn't let go of what had happened to me. I couldn't accept it. Mm-hmm. . And so acceptance is important too, because once you accept, Hey, I can't change what happened, but I could change my perspective about it.
Mm-hmm. , you know, but it's, it's not something that just happens. You know, overnight, right? Right. It's a process and, and there are times when I just took one step forward and three steps back, and I just feel like, oh my goodness, I'm back here at, you know, ground zero again. I feel like I'm at rock bottom again.
You know, and I'd get so discouraged, but I've learned that, okay, I'm gonna have days where I struggle sometimes, but now I'm seeing, oh, well, I'm having more good days and bad days and, and I celebrate my wins now, you know, like even though I have days, I might struggle. I still, I still, I don't have hopelessness anymore because I have so much hope.
I have ultimate hope. We have ultimate hope in Christ. Yeah. You know, we have that ultimate hope that can never be taken away from us no matter what we go through. Ultimate hope, ultimate joy, ultimate peace, ultimate love. You know, that's, that's something that can never be taken away from us. Like we are.
We were created to be overcomers. Mm-hmm. To be more than conquerors. and, and to overcome everything that was meant to destroy us. That's just who we are created to be, you know?
Gabi: Yeah. , you're so inspiring. Like I love just listening to your story and how you've made all of these choices along the way. Um, it takes definitely a level of tenacity to push through like you have, and like you've said, Your pain turns into your purpose.
Yes. And you can definitely tell like your purpose to help others who have been through something difficult. Mm-hmm. . Because God gave you the tenacity to push through and to stay, like to stay here on this planet. Yes. And to stay in it for the long haul. Um, which makes me wanna ask you the question cuz I'm sure the question is coming to some people's minds of, like you said, that you held tight to your.
Yes. And you put pressed into your faith? Yes. Like practically on a day-to-day basis, especially when you're so angry. Mm-hmm. or you're so distraught. Yes. When things feel so hopeless. Mm-hmm. , how did you do that? Like, oh my goodness. In a practical way.
Christine: That's such a great question, Gabby, and I'm so glad you asked that because there were times I had no idea.
I was like, God, I don't know what to do. God, I need a miracle. Because I am hopeless right now. So please show me that, that I'm, I'm not alone. You know, God, why I, I mean, God's not surprised when we're angry at him and Right. Shaking our fists at him. Why, God, why? It's like, it's okay. I could handle, I could handle you being disappointed in me.
Mm-hmm. , you know, but don't ever just. Don't give up though. And so what I did was, well, I home, I almost had to borrow the faith of others sometimes. I love that because at times, yeah, because I, at times I didn't have the strength. Mm-hmm. , I didn't have the strength, and I felt like there's. There really is no hope.
Like I, I don't have anything left in me. I feel like I've tried everything. I feel like there's just, I can't see a way out. And so I remember my, my younger sister, you know, she has a strong faith as well, and she was praying for me and, but I was just in tears and I was like, I, I don't know how to move on.
Like, I don't know how to move forward from this. I'm just hurting so much and I just don't wanna be here anymore. And she is crying and she's. I can't, I, I, I can't imagine not having you in my life. Mm-hmm. , and of course I would never wanna even think of leaving my family like that. Yeah. You know, that's what really helped, helped me.
Hold on. But she said, you know what, Christine? I know without a doubt that you are gonna overcome this. I know, like I have faith. I just, I just know that, I know that, I know deep down, I just know you're gonna overcome this. And you know what? I know you don't believe it right now, but you could borrow my faith.
I'll, I, I'll believe for you until one day you could believe for yourself, but you will one day. And that, I don't know, just gave me so much hope. Wow. And, and yeah, I was like, okay, well, just knowing like someone believed that much in me. That, that helped me to keep going. Um, cry out to God. That's, I've had experiences where, um, well there was experience once I was in Vegas after a night of partying back over a decade ago.
um, It was after a night of partying, and it was like five in the morning and I couldn't sleep. And I, it was just dark. Like I was in a dark place and I just was feeling so lonely. And this the, I just felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into darkness. Hmm. And, and those, those thoughts started coming, the really dark thoughts of, you know, you should, you should just take your life like it's not, It was just like, just, it was just so dark and so disturbing, and I felt so alone and just so scared.
And I, in the middle of the night in the dark, I, something in my heart just wanted to cry out to God and I just cried out to him. I said, God, if you're here, please let me know. And literally in that second before I can finish my sentence, I felt like, , I almost felt like nothing else existed in the universe in that moment, but me and God, like God was like so close, almost like, like he was right inside.
Oh, but also like everywhere, like omnipresent, just how God is. It was so, it was so overwhelming and I was just so, um, Overcome with this peace that I, I've never felt like so much peace in that moment. I just knew like, God, I'm gonna be okay. And that he like that just gave me hope that I was gonna be okay.
Like even in, in the darkest moments, I just cried out to God. I just got on my face and like, God help me. Mm-hmm. , you know, I was still hanging on that tiny sliver of hope. That's all you need. Even the tiniest, but don't let go ever cuz God shows. , you know, um, another thing too was opening my heart, having an open heart to whatever God has for you.
You know, if it's, if, if it's, um, looking into medicine or different types of therapy. But E M D R therapy was very powerful for me. Um, and, and in, and my e EMDR therapy, I was praying the whole time. So prayer obviously is, prayer opens, prayer is our most powerful. And constantly being in communication with God.
And the whole time, while during the MD E M D R session, I was just praying and asking God to show me what I need to see. And so I had to open up my mind and my heart instead of, oh, it's not gonna work, you know, before, oh, these, the other things didn't work, so it's probably not gonna work. But no, I just, I was just so desperate for, for answers for help and I, I was, my heart was in a posture, it's like, I'm just open to receive whatever I need to hear so I can move forward, you know?
And so God, God just showed. He showed up in such a powerful way. I just felt his presence, that same overwhelming piece, like overwhelming love, like this endless love just pouring over me. And you know, every time that something like that happens, I just feel like I just can't help but like ball my eyes out cuz it's so totally powerful, right?
Yeah. You're just like, this is such beautiful feeling, I wanna stay here forever. Yeah. And yeah, and God showed me in that moment, in my mind's eye that in that surgery room, When I felt like God had forsaken me. He was with the, with me. He was, he had never left me, and that's what he showed me. That changed my story too, that he had never left me.
He's always been with me. He was protecting me, protecting my vision, just protecting me because today I could say, I mean, I, I don't look mutilated. You know, yes. I had to have two revisional surgeries to try to improve things and things won't ever be completely the same. But now I can see myself and, and say Thank you.
Thank you for my eyes. Thank it. Took me a long time to get there. Cause they were, I hated my eyes before. Wow. Absolutely hated them. And I felt despair when I saw my eyes, but, I mean by the grace of God, I'm so thankful that God has transformed me from the inside out, like healed me from the inside out. It doesn't mean everything's perfect.
I'm still a work in progress and I have days I struggle too, but never, ever again in my life will I be absolutely hopeless, cuz now I know that ultimate hope that I have in Christ, you know? And so I don't know if that's a long way of kind of explaining it, but really, Uh, just press into God. Seek him with all your heart.
Pray like, pray unceasingly and just talk to him throughout the day. Don't make it complicated. Sure. Right. Um, and reach out for help. Like I joined community groups at church and if, you know, maybe if, if that one didn't work out, maybe something didn't work out there, don't give up. , just try something else.
Like try like a Celebrate Recovery Group or a 12 step program or, um, there's something called Regen Regeneration. It's an amazing program, um, that a lot of churches do. Um, but. Something about being in community and sharing, you know, what you're going through with others and praying for each other and supporting each other, encouraging others.
It really does bring a lot of healing, so that was very powerful for me too. Yeah, yeah.
Gabi: Yeah. I mean, what I kind of heard you say, which I don't know if you've framed it like this before, but what I, what I heard you say about how you pressed into your faith was you were completely authentic. Like through the whole process where I think we can kind of get confused by different religious practices.
Yes. Um, and think that if we just check the specific boxes, like read my Bible, pray this way, et cetera, et cetera, then maybe we'll find our healing. But you didn't, you didn't have to do that cuz you were in a relat. , yes. With God. Yeah. And so what I heard you say is that you were honest Yes. About how you were feeling.
Yes. And you had the perspective of like, if anyone can do anything about this, it's you, God. Yes. So therefore, please do something because I don't know how to get through this. Yes. And that's really what. Kept you going. Yes. Because you, you were honest. You were authentic, which is so important for healing.
Oh, right. For anybody to be authentic about what it is that you're feeling, whether that's with a person or with God. Either way. Mm-hmm. or both is better , you know?
Christine: Absolutely.
Gabi: And he met you there. And I think that's what is so beautiful about the God that we have. Yes. Is like He's so personal. Yes. And he's so willing to meet us in our pain.
And he's not like turned off by like, . Why are you wrestling with that? Like get over it. like he never does that. He never does. No matter how small the thing is. Mm-hmm. . And so as we learn, like you so beautifully just showed us that being vulnerable in the presence of God is actually where your healing can happen.
Yes. I just thought that was so powerful. How you put that in. Beautiful. And also what you said about your sister. Mm-hmm. Yes. I mean that points to community in general. And you, you mentioned like make sure you get connected with people. Yes. And it's true, like you can't fully heal without other people.
Yes. That's really how God designed us. Mm-hmm. to be like wounding. in a relationship. Yep. Healing also happens in relationship. That's right. So as we come together in relationship, sometimes it takes courage. Sometimes it's very small steps to get there, and that's okay. Yeah. But that's where the real healing can take place.
And how you borrowed, you said, I'm doing quotes. For those of you not watching the video, doing quote fingers. So you borrowed your sister's faith. Mm-hmm. like that. That was beautiful and we can do that in so many different ways. Right? Even if you don't have a friend or a sister nearby who has that kind of faith right now.
Yeah. Like you can plug into those podcasts. Yes. You can listen to the sermon. You can read the book. Mm-hmm. start there. Borrow someone else. Listen to stories like Christine's and that's what I did too. Like other people have overcome, I can overcome too.
Christine: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. That's another part of, of what helped me too in my faith, is looking at or other people's testimonies.
And the things that they've overcome, if they were able to overcome that gave me strength. Like, okay, if they could do it, I could do it too. Yeah. You know, that really, really gave me so much and talking to others about who have gone through some hard things. Yeah. You know, that that just gives you so much strength, like, okay, if they could do it, I could do it too.
Gabi: Yeah. Which helps also with that perspective part that you were talking about. Yes. Because it gives you perspective of like, okay, let's, let's put my suffering, which is real. Yeah. In perspective, in the grand scheme of things, especially in the scheme of like who God says he is and who he says I am.
Exactly. Being that in other people's stories can be so comforting. Yes and so reassuring when you're in the thick of it, of like, okay, he showed up for them. He's gonna show up for me too.
Christine: Exactly. And then another thing with perspective too is like, okay, I mean, we live in a F, in a first world country.
Mm-hmm. and Major, the majority of the vast majority of the world, you know, are. Living on what, $5 a day or less? $2 a day. Yeah. And, and we are, we're upset when, you know, we're not able to have children when we want at, at by a certain age. We thought we'd have children. You know, that's, that could, that's disappointment too.
And I've struggled with things like that too. But then if you think of like a third world problem is, I don't know if I could feed my children today. Yeah. You know, it's just, It just gives you, gives you perspective. Yeah. You know, and then, and then you realize, wow, I'm, I need, I'm so grateful that I have so many things, like all my basic necessities met and more Yeah.
You know, so that really does change, change perspective for me too. Yeah. What I,
Gabi: and it turns on your compassion.
Christine: Exactly. Exactly. That's the next thing is like, and pain makes you a deeper person. It makes you so much of a deeper person, and you become a more compassionate person. And. You just wanna help others.
Like you can help people much more powerfully. You could give hope and and speak life into people so much more powerfully than if you didn't go through pain. Yeah. You know? So pain is your pain. Can actually be your power. There's nothing more powerful than telling someone who's hurting. I know. Exactly. I know what you're going through.
Mm-hmm. . I understand. And if I was able to overcome, then I know you can too. You know, that's powerful than just telling someone, Hey, you know, like sympathy. That's not gonna be as powerful as like true empathy and true, like I believe you can because I'm living proof. Mm-hmm. you. It's so powerful. Yeah, it's so powerful.
Gabi: Yeah. It really is. Yeah. So how is that like showing up in your life now? Because Yeah. Um, you're a dentist. Mm-hmm. , if you guys did not catch that earlier, , um, Christina's a dentist, but she has this amazing team that she pours into. So can you tell us kind of Yeah. How this has affected the way that you operate day-to-day with your teams?
Christine: I am getting chills just thinking about how amazing God is and everything that I've. That God has allowed me to walk through in my life God is using now to help lead my team at Thrive. You know, my staff and my team and I, we call Thrive a place of hope and a place of transformation because it's just been incredible to see.
You know, as we, as we show our team that we value them, that we believe in them, they start to believe in themselves, and they start to transform, you know, reaching their greatest God-given potential. And here's an example. Our, um, how much time do I have? I wanna make sure I'm respecting. You're good. You're good.
Go for it. I have time. Okay. So. How about I tell, I start with a story. Okay. Love stories. Okay. . Okay. So on January 4th, 2022, I got off the phone with my business coach, Luke Renn, and he was actually talking about all these really exciting things. We were discussing how we're gonna grow Thrive Dental Orthodontics, take it to the next level.
And you know, he is a, you know, a world class business leader. And so for me, I was just like, oh my goodness, this is incredible. Like Luke believes in us, you know, I just. . I was like almost in disbelief. Like, I mean, I knew he believed in us, but like I was just thinking, this is so exciting. Like I know that I felt like in my heart that God had big plans for us to grow, thrive.
It already was growing so much, but I felt like God was try was gonna take us to another level that we've never imagined. And so leading up to that day, I just kept praying. And this is another thing about faith, is you don't have to make it complicated. I felt like God was telling my heart, don't make it complicated.
Seek to know my love for. And, and that was my prayer. It's like, Lord, help me to understand your love for me. Because when he fills us with his love and we understand that love more fully, we overflow with his love and his power to do more than we could ask, think, or imagine. It's through his power working in and through us.
And so that had been my prayer and, and I used to feel like, well, I don't know how to read the Bible very well and do all this stuff, and, and God was like, don't make it so complicated. Read my word. Like that's how he speaks to us. Just talk to me. Don't, it doesn't have to be rules, you know, just, but like, when I immerse myself in God's word, it transforms me from the inside out and, and, and, and I just see.
How God is changing everything in my life, you know? So that, that's just another tidbit of faith, what, like the tactical things to do. But anyways, that day, um, I actually was overcoming Covid and I wasn't feeling very good leading up to that. But that morning I woke up feeling amazing and so I was like, Hmm, this is weird.
And I even did a workout that morning, which I thought was like, wow, how don't I have all this energy? Uh, there's a reason why. And um, so as soon as I got off the phone with Luke, well it was in the middle of the phone call with Luke when he was talking about all the things, how we're gonna 10 x our, our company.
And I was like, wow, this is exciting. But also in disbelief, right? And I was thinking to myself, I don't know if I have what it takes to do this. This is exciting, but I don't know. And then before I could like even, like, really finish my thought, God just spoke so loud and clear to my heart. It's not about.
It's not about you. And I was like, yes, Lord. Amen. Like instantly I was like, yes Lord, it's not about me, you know? And I was like, wow. And then, um, after I got off the phone with Luke, I, I, I don't know if people like really believe in the num numerology and stuff, but it was exactly 11, 11:00 AM mm-hmm. . And I was like, oh, that's so interesting.
But when it, so what happened for the next hour and a half? It's very hard for me to describe. . I'll just try, I'll try to explain it to you in a nutshell. For the next hour and a half, I, what I was experiencing was I was so overcome and so overwhelmed by the presence of God and I, it felt like there was like tidal waves or tsunami waves crashing over me of, of.
Of this peace and this endless love. It was like so overwhelming and I almost thought I was like losing my mind. It was so intense. I was like shaking and, but. Also had so much peace, you know? And I was just bawling my eyes out and I just got on my knees and I was just praying and just, I was just like asking God, like, is this really happening?
You know? Like I was like so overwhelmed, but it was so beautiful. I, I'd never encountered God in such a powerful way in my life before. Wow. And he and God just kept downloading truth bomb after truth bomb into my spirit. And the verse, Ephesians three. I've been seeing this verse everywhere. It kept popping up everywhere, and so I memorized it.
It's, you know, to him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ask, think or imagine according to his power working in and through you. Yeah. Right. In Christ Jesus. Um, in Christ Jesus. Amen. Or something like that. But that the, that's the main gist of the verse and I that. God brought that to my heart again and I felt him speak in my heart, in my spirit so clearly that that's why he allowed all of these things to happen first.
He, he, he made it very clear, well, I am God and I am limitless. Don't put any limits on me, and it is not a, it's not about you. It's all about me, like glorifying him and, and. Pouring out his love and that it's gonna be his love and power working through us so that we could do more. It's not gonna be in our own strength.
Right. It's like we're co-creators with God. Mm-hmm. And that through work, you know, working with God and sharing his love, we can do more than we can imagine, and that's how we're truly gonna grow, you know. We're limiting ourselves as if, if we're not co-creators with God. And so he made that like, I, I just felt so strong, strongly in my spirit.
That's the key to how we're gonna grow as a company. And then also, God, it was so healing cuz God was like, that's why I allowed you to go through, you know, the crushing Hmm. So that I could use you more powerfully. You know, like I created you for a purpose and I was just so overcome. It was so. Freeing.
Just like so reassuring to my heart, like, wow, God, thank you. Thank you so much. And, and he just, I don't know. It was just such a gift. And, and he brought to my mind's eye, the four little children from Compassion International that we, you know, it's an organization that we're partnered with to help release children from poverty, extreme poverty, in Jesus' name.
Mm-hmm. . And so, God let me borrow his eyes in that moment and my heart was about to explode with love. Like it was so powerful of how much as he brought them in my mind's eye, each of those little children's faces like I was, my heart was literally like, Felt like it was gonna burst from like the love I had for them.
And, and God was like, you know, Christine, see how much I love every single one of my children. You know, that's why I created you so that you can help others so that they can help others and create that beautiful ripple effect. So it's actually possible for every child of mine to be saved. . And it's almost like he, like, he let me borrow his eyes in that moment, like almost like a bird's eye view of like the world and how he sees us.
It was so, I mean, it, it's, I've forever changed. It's, yeah. I've never been the same since then. Wow. And, and, you know, and how funny is that? So Exactly. On January 4th, 2023, Was the only day that Luke was able to fly in for 24 hours to uh, kick off our, uh, 2023 New year with our, our first like true, true all team meeting with all of our team, um, and to take thrive to the next level.
And that's when we were kind of announcing that he is partnering with us. Wow. And so, yeah. And I just thought it was so funny cuz God, like he uses numbers in powerful ways sometimes. And yeah. I just knew like that was just god, like a god wink, you know? Mm-hmm. January 4th when I gave you that vision.
Exactly. One year later, look what's happening. And it's just been incredible to see. Yeah. The, the transformation in the lives of our team, our patients. Um, so our first ever staff member that we hired Samantha Green back in 2016, . She was a young mother of. and she was struggling and she had faced so much adversity in her life.
And, but Nate and I really believed in her and, and she started believing in herself too. And we've just been so humbled by her, like relentless commitment to become like the leader she is today. She's just unstoppable. That's awesome. And you know what? Now today Samantha is our executive vice president.
Wow, isn't that amazing's? So, so cool. It's a, and then the rest of our team, I mean, just amazing, amazing people and, and they're all just c climbing right behind her, like they're all, you know, paving the way. It's just, it's incredible. I love it. Yeah. All of our faith is growing, just seeing how amazing God is and when, when we.
When we're putting God first in our lives, in our marriage, in our business, and in our, in our relationships, everything. in our finances. It's God. I mean, we're limitless with God. Mm-hmm. , you know, it's just, it's incredible. Yeah. I'm so grateful,
Gabi: so inspiring friend , like, I just love hearing this and it's not something, I mean, I think this is one of my favorite things about having you on the show.
It's because you're in a, you're in a profession that you wouldn't really think about personal development in. Right. You know, I, I never think of dentistry in that way. Granted, I have not been anywhere around that profession at all, except in the chair . But it's so beautiful because I'm just seeing through you, like no matter where you are, the impact that you can have and that ripple effect is so beyond.
Oh yes, you can imagine. Oh my goodness, what? The work that you're doing is so beautiful and I can't wait to see what comes next. Like, thank you. It's so fun to have like this front row seat. Oh, and see what's happening in your life. And I just know God has so much more, even more than you can imagine, as you know, coming.
Christine: She's so amazing and. Exact same thing right back at you. God has so much for you. This is just the beginning. This is just the beginning for all of us. Yes. You know, God, with God, we are limitless and we could do everything he has called us to do. You know, that's not, that's why Ephesians three is like my favorite verse.
It's, it's so empowering and it's like, okay, I could do this because it's through God's strength. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And I remind myself, you know, I'm put on this earth so that I can make a difference and I could create eternal impact, not just Yes. Have success outwardly. But create an eternal impact.
Yeah. In the lives of others. And, and that's, that's what truly counts, right? Yeah. Yeah. And that's what you're doing. That's exactly what you're doing. You're helping so many people and creating eternal impact. That's why I love you so much, Gabi.
Gabi: Aww. That's why I love you. So all much .
Christine: I know. It's like a love fest.
Every time I see you, I'm just like,
Gabi: I know. It's wonderful. I love. Makes me so happy. Me too. I've loved chatting with you today. I love hearing your story. You like, you're a powerful woman and, um, don't worry. Like I said, thank you. Thank you. You are, I embrace that . Yes. But I would love for any listeners who would just like to know you more and connect with you to do that.
Um, can you just let us know like what are the best ways to do that? And I'll link it in the show notes as well. I'll also link compassion. If there's a special link you have for me, I'll put that in there. Yes. But yeah, just let us know how we can connect with you.
Christine: Absolutely. So you can connect with me. I love Instagram.
So just Dr. So Dr. Dot, Christine Coghlan. Um, so it's just Dr. Christine Coghlan and then Thrive Dentist is my handle for, you know, our, Our business website. Cool. So Thrive Dentist and Dr. Christine Coghlan. Perfect. Um, yeah. And then you could just check out our website@thrivedentist.com. Yeah.
Gabi: And if you're in the Dallas area, definitely
Christine: Yeah. Come see us. Ooh. And what if, Hey, why don't we do a special for any of your, uh, listeners that would be awesome. Or viewers. Yeah. For any of your tribe, let's, let's figure something out. Let's, let's do like some sort of discount thing that they could.
Gabi: Definitely we will figure that out by the time this post on
Christine: Zoom, how does that sound?
Sounds amazing. 50% off. Yeah, let's do that for any, anyone. Let's make a code. Okay. I would love to do to offer that.
Gabi: So guys, go check out the show notes cause there's gonna be a code in there for you. Yay. That's amazing. Thank you Christine.
Christine: Our smiles, smells are so important, right? Mm-hmm. , we can't smile, we can't have confidence, and it's our smile is how we connect with the world.
It helps us shine and that's what we're created for. So yeah, whatever I could do to help with that.
Gabi: I love that. Thank you. Well, you're amazing and beautiful, as I've already said multiple times. No, are you, but it's just true. And we'll connect soon. I love you, friend.
Christine: All right, love you, friend. Thank you so much for having me.
Gabi: Absolutely an honor. Oh, I'm so glad it's gonna be such a good show.
Christine: Oh my goodness. I can't wait. It's gonna be, yay, friend.
Gabi: Talk to you soon.
Christine: Bye.